Court, community leader remembered by friends

Carrie Cotten Bell was a nurturer who wasn’t afraid to provide discipline, a professional who didn’t shy away from proclaiming her faith and an inspiration to those who knew her.

By Amanda Memrick

Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 08:52 AM.

Carrie Cotten Bell was a nurturer who wasn’t afraid to provide discipline, a professional who didn’t shy away from proclaiming her faith and an inspiration to those who knew her.

Bell died suddenly in her sleep Jan. 9 at age 68.

The Gastonia resident spent 40 years as a court counselor with the Gaston County Department of Juvenile Justice. Bell worked in the court system at a time when few women and minorities held those kinds of positions.

“She ran up against a lot of opposition, but she stood her ground,” said her son, the Rev. Shawn Bell.

Bell was an advocate for justice and adamant about people voting, her son said. She was involved with the Democratic Women and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Bell stayed busy as a mother of four and first lady alongside the Rev. Cornelius Bell, who served as Gastonia’s senior housing code inspector for 35 years. Bell was active in the Lincolnton district of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

“She was just a mentor. She was outspoken, probably offended some. And that’s the court counselor in her,” Shawn Bell said. “Everyone called her ‘Mother Bell.’”

Carrie Cotten Bell was a nurturer who wasn’t afraid to provide discipline, a professional who didn’t shy away from proclaiming her faith and an inspiration to those who knew her.

Bell died suddenly in her sleep Jan. 9 at age 68.

The Gastonia resident spent 40 years as a court counselor with the Gaston County Department of Juvenile Justice. Bell worked in the court system at a time when few women and minorities held those kinds of positions.

“She ran up against a lot of opposition, but she stood her ground,” said her son, the Rev. Shawn Bell.

Bell was an advocate for justice and adamant about people voting, her son said. She was involved with the Democratic Women and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Bell stayed busy as a mother of four and first lady alongside the Rev. Cornelius Bell, who served as Gastonia’s senior housing code inspector for 35 years. Bell was active in the Lincolnton district of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

“She was just a mentor. She was outspoken, probably offended some. And that’s the court counselor in her,” Shawn Bell said. “Everyone called her ‘Mother Bell.’”

Engaging teacher

Mütter Evans of Winston-Salem met Bell as a freshman at E.J. HayesHigh Schoolin Williamston. Bell, who was then the single Carrie Cotten, taught civics and coached the debate team.

“She had boundless energy and was extremely enthusiastic and supportive of all of us. We worked very hard, and we competed, and we won. We had a very good track record there with her,” Evans said.

Bell was able to manage a debate team with students ranging from freshmen to seniors, band members to football players. The teacher had high expectations and expected students to be productive even as they were having fun.

Evans and Bell became friends when Evans graduated high school.

“She genuinely cared. Though she was serious, she didn’t take herself too seriously,” Evans said. “She was just a very extremely genuine person. She was true to herself. She was ever Carrie Cotten Bell.”

Zest for life

Belinda Byers, a supervisor for McDonald’s, met Bell through church when she was 11-years-old.

“She took us under her wing. She gave us love when we needed it. She gave us encouragement when we needed it. But also she did not spare the words when we needed to hear it,” Byers said. “She was a professional woman. She had a career. But we always knew that she loved the Lord. She was not ashamed of who she was in Christ.”

Bell always told young people to strive to be better. She wanted to be sure that the children attending church at Cannon’s Temple Church of God in Christ stayed on the right path so she never dealt with them in the court system. Bell commanded a reverence and a respect from others.

“She taught me that even though we have to be in the world, we don’t have to be of the world,” Byers said.

Her funeral will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday at Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, 911 N. Highland St., Gastonia. The family will receive friends 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursdaybefore the service at the church.

“And she will certainly be missed,” Evans said. “But I so admired her zest for life, and I can’t think of anyone that I’m aware of who’s not better off for having had her in his or her life for whatever amount of time it might have been.”

You can reach reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.